LAC Ordered to Halt Factory Operations Indefinitely

The Government of Liberia has ordered that the rubber processing factory at the Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC) remain closed until it is assessed by independent technicians for the safety of workers following the recent industrial accident.  

On Saturday, August 28, 2021, a joint delegation of the Executive and the Senate Committee on Labour visited LAC to understand the actual circumstances that led to the industrial accident which resulted in the killing of Emmanuel Joe, one of the company's employees. 

Members of the joint delegation were: the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Willington Geevon Smith and Senator J. Milton Tenjay, Labour Minister, Charles H. Gibson, Agriculture Minister Jennis Cooper, Acting Justice Minister, Nyenatee Tuan, Deputy Police Director Prince Mulbah among others.

Speaking to journalists after the day-long visit, Labour Minister Cllr. Charles H. Gibson said “We met and held discussions with the family and shared their grief and extended the government’s condolences. We held discussions with the workers union and inspected the factory where the incident took place and concluded with a meeting with the management.”  

Minister Gibson said that during these meetings, the delegation stressed the need for the management to work along with the family to ensure the peaceful and decent burial of the deceased.  He affirmed that there were  ongoing negotiations between the family and the management regarding benefits. 

The Minister said that the Labour Ministry is going to designate two technicians, the Assistant Director for Trade Union Affairs and Social dialogue, Mr. Dominic Wreh, who will work along with the Workers Union, the family, and the Management to ensure that what they are discussing is concluded and the deceased is given a decent burial. According to Minister Gibson, the Director of the Industrial Safety Department of the Ministry, Mr. Author Jimmy, will conduct an assessment on safety requirements and policies at the company. 

“We want to ensure that by Wednesday of next week we determine whether the factory is safe enough for operations, but before that time, we intend to open it partially for our farmers who want to sell their rubber to have it sold and to allow stockpile of rubber that the company has already processed to be taken to the port before it perishes and buyers refuse them. We hope that by next week, we will arrive at these objectives.” 

The Labour Minister maintained that his Ministry will continue its investigations after the burial on all aspects of labor at LAC.

He said what happened at LAC borders around culpability, but more so, it bordered clearly on corporate negligence and as such, on the principle of defendant superior, Management takes responsibility for what its workers do. “And as such, in this instance, it was a working day and there were supervisors, technicians and cleaners, and whatever happened at that site, the management assumes responsibility.  

Also speaking, the Senate Committee Chairman on Labour, Senator Willington Geevon Smith, described the discussion as fruitful, noting that the safety of workers at the company was highlighted. Senator Smith said that the Senate is concerned about stability and harmony on the plantation and as such, he will be reporting to the plenary on Tuesday on the situation at LAC.

On other issues concerning the operations of the company as it relates to the aftermath of this situation, Sen. Smith said that the Ministry of Labour and line ministries responsible will conclude the discussion with the workers union and management. “It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour to advise on what the company should do and not do, but I am here to report to the Plenary as head of the Committee what these Ministries responsible agreed to do to restore harmony and stability at the plantation.

Acting Justice Minister, Cllr. Nyenatee Tuan, said that a team from the Crime Services Division of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has been dispatched to the plantation to conduct forensic investigations into the situation. 

He said that given the importance and concerns of the government, a team of ministers was constituted to come and do an assessment in order to have a comprehensive report.

On the question of security at the plantation, the Acting Justice Minister said that they have met and encouraged the Workers Union to do all in their power to ensure that there should be no industrial unrest at the plantation, hoping that all will remain civil.

For her part, Minister of Agriculture, Madam Jennie Cooper extended sympathy to the bereaved family and all workers of LAC for the loss. She said LAC has been a key partner to Liberia since 1959, especially in the agriculture sector.

Minister Cooper said that the Management has assumed full responsibility for the consequences that had come up as the result of this industrial accident.

“What we are looking forward to as a Ministry and government is how quickly we can resolve all of the situations that led to such an irreparable incident and start-up production in the way that it does not endanger anybody again.” 

Speaking on behalf of the Workers Union, the President General of the General Agriculture and Allied Workers Union of Liberia (GAAWUL, Mr. James Geeve, praised the Government of Liberia for its timely interventions and assured the worker's full cooperation in ensuring that their colleague gets a decent and peaceful burial.

For the family, they requested a befitting burial of their relative. They, however, said that their relative will not be buried until discussions surrounding their demands to management are concluded and signed into a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

As part of their demands, the family asked that the deceased's first son, who is disabled and a first-year college student, be sent outside Liberia to continue his education.  They want the other four children who are still in secondary school to be fully sponsored up to first-degree level.

Furthermore, they are asking that the company buy two lots of land and build three units with three bedrooms each well-furnished for the family.

Additionally, they want three family members including the widow of Joe to be employed with the company, while all other cash benefits are paid in full to the family.  The family is also demanding that the company takes responsibility for food and drinks during the period of bereavement.